Customer Reviews

Angel Standing By: The Story of Jewel

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4 star:		(2)
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2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is just another unauthorized biography telling stuff that you already read a million times. If you want to know what Jewel's life is really like wait until this summer when she publishes her own autobiggraphy, "Life Stories".

Anyone that's followed Jewel's career, fan or no, would have a tough time disputing the facts detailed in Angel Standing By. As a former member of the music industry, who watched the rise of this San Diego songbird from her days playing in coffeehouses and punk festivals (even though she didn't fit in, the crowd received her well), I'd say this book tells the whole story, heartbreak, hardship and all. Maybe some of these facts are hard to hear, but that's what makes it so compelling. Jewel probably didn't agree to participate in this book because she didn't want to sully her image, but all it does is show her to be the complete, complex human being she is.

I was disappointed by this book. Though the stories in it are undoubtedly true and it does describe how difficult Jewel's road to stardom was, it seemed to read more like a chronology of events than an in-depth look at her career. Quotes were interpersed throughout from Jewel and those close to her, but the author never actually interviewed her himself. You could easily find much of the factual information online for free and if you know what EDA stands for, you probably know most of it already anyway.

If you are looking for more insight into Jewel's life and career, I would suggest her autobiography "Chasing Down the Dawn". If you want inspiration for making dreams come true and listening to your soul, "The Architecture of All Abundance" by Lenedra Carroll (Jewel's mom) is a must-read. If you're still thinking about this book, read the online "look inside" excerpt pages first - that's almost 20% of the book right there.

Angel Standing By is an excellent read if you don't know how Jewel came to be standing where she is today. It follows her life from her childhood right up to a few months before her second album Spirit is released. The story is intriguing and if you are already a fan of her work, you will enjoy this book.

The only downside to this book, is that while I assume those close to Jewel were interviewed about Jewel's life, Jewel herself was not interviewed. There are quotes from Jewel in here that are written from a second persons' viewpoint.

Aside from that, it's a great tale and an inspiration to those who are waiting to be discovered.

Anyone who loves Jewel is going to love this book because it give so many facts about her life and it shows that not everyone starts out with a road paved in gold.you have got to take chances to get where you want to go .

This book is an UNAUTHORIZED biography! Jewel disagrees with the content in this book. She says some of the info is FAKE!

I never realized, until I read Angel Standing By, how difficult Jewel's life was previous to her becoming a star (can you believe she had to steal toilet paper from fast food restaurants?!). I never realized how precariously the foundation upon which her stardom was built - late to an audition with Atlantic Records, she almost never got signed. If it hadn't been for the persistence of her rather green A&R rep, who just believed in her the way some people ardently profess faith in to a god, Jewel would have been slinking back to oblivion in the San Diego coffeehouse scene. I never realized how much impact her love affair with Steve Poltz, nearly twice her age and already a scenemaker in San Diego band the Rugburns, had on her own career and visibility ... culminating in their shared songwriting of "You Were Meant For Me." And these are the minor points... All the inside stories, all the behind-the-scenes insight that could make you feel like you truly know this songstress, are in this book. Maybe diehard fans close to stalkerdom already know these stories, but for the rest of us, Angel Standing By is a must read. You can never really understand Jewel's songs (much less her poetry) until you understand her.

This biography of Jewel brings her to life as no one has before -- all of the people who brought her to fame, all of the places she had to play before she got there come to life as though you're reading a really great novel. I learned so much about the music industry, and read this in one sitting. I couldn't believe all it took for her to become who she is today. Such an inspiring story!

Not like ordinary biographies. This one explains what it's like to learn how to play guitar and sing in front of people. I feel like I know her so intimately that she'd recognize me if she saw me on the street!

Man kommt nicht über dieses Buch zu Jewel, sondern über ihre Musik. Wer diese Musik liebt und mehr über Jewel erfahren will, sollte dieses Buch lesen. Es ist in einem recht einfach und flüssig zu lesenden Englisch geschrieben, so daß sogar ich den Inhalt verstand. Mag sein das nicht alle Fakten stimmen, aber wo findet man das schon. Wer Jewel liebt wird sie nach diesem Buch anbeten, den ihr wurde NICHTS geschenkt.